What reading level is Merlin and the making of the king?

Merlin and the making of the king by Margaret Hodges is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 910L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Merlin and the making of the king appropriate for?

Merlin and the making of the king is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Merlin and the making of the king?

Merlin and the making of the king is nonfiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Merlin and the making of the king have any content warnings?

Merlin and the making of the king has a HootRating of 11LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Merlin and the making of the king?

Merlin and the making of the king by Margaret Hodges is 39 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

Merlin and the making of the king

Margaret Hodges

Merlin and the making of the king

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Margaret Hodges

Reading Level 6-7 11LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What if a simple stone held the secret to becoming a king? Imagine a world where magic, brave knights, and mysterious ladies shape the fate of a kingdom. Could one boy really pull a sword from stone and change history forever?

Themes

Adventure Fantasy World-Building Friendship Family HistoricalArthurian Legends

Quick Assessment

This book retells four classic Arthurian legends, including 'The Sword in the Stone' and 'Excalibur,' weaving together tales of Merlin, King Arthur, and their adventures. Suitable for ages 9-12, it introduces young readers to timeless folklore with accessible language and engaging storytelling. Parents should note the presence of mild fantasy violence and themes of bravery and destiny.

Why we rated Merlin and the making of the king 11LE

Merlin and the making of the king is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 910L across 39 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Merlin and the making of the king works for readers up to grade 8.5.

We rate Merlin and the making of the king as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Merlin and the making of the king explores adventure, fantasy world-building, friendship, family, and historical — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, fantasy world-building, friendship.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.